Summary

The article discusses the myth that military personnel can be charged with destruction of government property for getting a sunburn, clarifying the actual consequences of neglecting health to the point of hospitalization or disobeying orders, and outlines the rights that are limited or revoked upon joining the military.

Abstract

The content addresses a prevalent myth within military circles that suggests individuals could face charges for damaging government property if they suffer a sunburn. The author debunks this myth, explaining that while sunburns themselves are not criminal, severe cases leading to hospitalization might result in charges of dereliction of duty or disobeying orders if the sunburn was sustained under improper circumstances. The article then shifts focus to the broader topic of rights within the military, highlighting that service members sacrifice several constitutional rights, including freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and certain legal protections afforded to civilian criminal defendants. The author, with a background in military law, emphasizes the irony of these limitations, given that military personnel swear an oath to uphold the Constitution.

Opinions

The author believes that the myth of being charged for a sunburn is outrageous and highlights the absurdity of such rumors.
There is a suggestion that the military justice system is flawed, as it may not provide service members with an unbiased jury or disclose the accuser's identity.
The article implies that the military's approach to punishment can be both unusual and cruel, contrary to the Eighth Amendment's protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
The author points out an irony in the limitation of constitutional rights for military personnel, who vow to protect those very rights.
There is a hint of sarcasm in the author's tone when discussing the voluntary nature of military service and the subsequent forfeiture of certain rights.
The author invites readers to share their thoughts and experiences on similar myths and the curtailing of rights in various professions.

You Are Government Property!

Don’t You Dare Get a Sunburn!

Have you ever heard some myths that are so outrageous that people end up believing they’re true?

I can’t even tell you how many times I heard the whole story that if you get a sunburn in the military, you can get charged for the destruction of government property!

The entire concept of this is completely insane!

But still, there were actually a lot of people who believed this was true.

No…you will not be charged with the destruction of government property if you get a sunburn.

That being said, there is a caveat to that.

If you get a sunburn that is bad enough that you get hospitalized and cannot perform your duties, you technically could be charged with dereliction of duty.

And, for example, if you got a sunburn while on a vacation in a location you were not authorized to go to, you could also be charged with disobeying a direct order.

But people can’t be property…we kind of abolished that a long time ago.

Or did we?

While you won’t get charged for the destruction of government property, there are some rights you really do not have if you wear the uniform (as I am sure my fellow sisters and brothers would agree with).

What rights you do not have in the military:

Freedom of Speech — In the military, you absolutely 100% do not have the freedom of speech that is given to us in the Constitution. You cannot speak your mind or let people know your political or religious beliefs (at least, not if you are more of the conservative mindset…nowadays, you have free speech in the military as long as you are conforming to the Progressive mindset).
Right to Bear Arms — This right is limited once you join the military, ironically. Unless you have a weapon assigned to you for a specific duty or job, you cannot carry a weapon while on any military base.
Search and Seizure rights — If you are in the military and live on base, you do not have the right to search and seizure laws. The concept that a person’s home is their castle doesn’t apply, because, even though we are required to sign a bunch of documentation and contracts to live in military housing (just like a lease or a mortgage), the housing belongs to the government. They can come in if they want to.
Rights for Criminal Defendants — While it is pretty much guaranteed that you will get a speedy trial and a lawyer, you really won’t have the rest of the things the Sixth Amendment states you should. You will not have an unbiased jury and, half the time, the military doesn’t even let you know who has even accused you of what you are being charged with. As a former JAG paralegal, the amount of people I saw get in trouble didn’t even know who ratted on them,
Cruel and Unusual Punishment — The military basically makes itself known for its unusual punishment styles, some of which I would argue are pretty cruel. In uniform, you do not have protection from this. Suck it up, buttercup!

That’s all I will mention right now, as those were all in the Bill of “Rights”.

But, as you can see, the military limits the rights that we were guaranteed in the Constitution…which is ironic since we take an oath to protect the Constitution.

But the way they look at it, you volunteered. So you signed up for it!

Is anybody rethinking their thoughts of joining yet?! Just kidding!

Tell me your thoughts and experiences. Have you ever heard a myth that people believed even though it was absolutely insane? Have you ever seen rights being taken away just because of the job a person has?

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